Ball Joints FAQ

ranzuo · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 8:15 pm Post subject: Ball Joints FAQ

To link to this thread copy and paste

busdaddy · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 8:21 pm Post subject:

All depends on how many times they have been changed. A 1 owner bus with full service history and no swaps would probably be OK with standard size, but if they have been pushed out a few times and the hole is oversized you'll need the big ones. Until they are out you can't say for sure.
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SGKent · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject:

buy swap torsion arms with the new ball joints already pressed in. Trust me. Bus Boys, Wolfgang, German Supply - you just need to find a price and quality you are comfortable with or perhaps close to you so you can inspect them before swapping. Unless you have the special tools to press them back in you won't be happy trying to put in your own. I tried to get a local VW bus shop here in Sacramento to redo mine but the last set they did broke a 40 ton press. I think it was probably worn but if you search you will find that they can be a bear to deal with even with the proper tools and press.
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wvengineer · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:43 am Post subject:

I'm in the process of rebuilding my front end right now as well. I'm hoping to continue dismantling it this evening. I decided to do it the hard way and replace the ball joints. d'oh!

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My Resto Thread

1977 Champagne Edition I Bus (Soon to be repainted Sage Green with a Camper Special in it!)

atmellovw · Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:56 am Post subject:

Buying the torsion arms with the joints pressed is the way to go. Saves you trips to a machine shop and worrying about if they are going to be able to press new ones in. Check out my gallery, I took alot of pics with notes this past winter when I did mine. Just don't forget to reinstall your eccentric bushing.
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1972 Westy ("Bubbles") - Pastel White - 1700(1974 MT) - Dual Solex

Alan Brase · Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject:

I've replaced several sets using a ball joint press I bought back in the 70's. I think it was made by Moog.
This made the job so simple. I'm sure I did a whole car in 4 hours or less. I'll probably do the ones on the Dormie sometime soon. I'll try to document it.
I think you can rent some kind of a ball joint press from Autozone and similar places.
Al
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Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

ranzuo · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:18 am Post subject:

im gonna jus go with new arms that have new joints in them. its not too much more and its worth saving the hassle. all 4 are blown and with my schedule it would take a long time to do them. ill just get the arms and do them in my garage.

thanks for the replies

Alan Brase · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:26 am Post subject:

Personally, I think changing the arms is a good amount of work, too.
Let us know how it goes.
Al
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Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home

Desertbusman · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:21 am Post subject:

Alan Brase · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:38 am Post subject:

gt1953 · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:33 am Post subject:

Talk to bus boys and the swap ball joints it is easier for you and the head ache is less.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

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72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

wvengineer · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 7:13 am Post subject:

As previously stated I ordered ball joints from Scott to do it myself. I have a 15T press, and a friend of mine has a 50T. I don't have VW 459 for removing and installing the joints. Looking at the arms I could possibly fab the tools needed to do the job. The other option would be removing them with heat and a hammer then using the correct sizes Sch. 80 pipe to install them trying to make sure you get them indexed correctly. I've thought about this long and hard. My final decision was to go ahead and order the arms from Scott and have him cancel the ball joints. There is no way I can practically justify the labor doing it myself for one bus considering the difference in cost. I hate it because I would rather do it myself, but you have to pick your battles. Wink

I think you've made the right choice.
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My Resto Thread

1977 Champagne Edition I Bus (Soon to be repainted Sage Green with a Camper Special in it!)

lostsailr · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:26 am Post subject:

I'm at the same point and just got refurbished parts from out west (where beams last a whole lot longer). Now that we are getting ready to put them on, anyone have a good link to info on replacing both sides at the same time? Most discussions talk about doing one side and then the other, but as you see, we are starting from scratch here...

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SGKent · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:33 pm Post subject:

Zed · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:07 pm Post subject:

FYI Bus Boys is out of rebuilt torsion arms for the next 10 days or so. People haven't been returning the cores, so he's upping the deposit on that.

I am also dealing with my ball joints, trying to get my bus completely done for a camping trip on the 1st. Since bus boys is out of rebuilt torsion arms for the moment I am considering just having Painters Grinding in Denver take care of the machining.

One question I have, Does anyone have 1st hand knowledge of the quality of Nakata ball joints? Painters says they are of equal quality to German ones for 1/2 the price.

Joey · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject:

I've used this method:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZLxPyRdAbY

On the bus ball joint, use a grinder to grind the top cover off the ball joint.

I used a tool similar to this to press the new ball joints in:

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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

SGKent · Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject:

nakata is fine. Why not get a set from Scott at German Supply? I got mine at wolfgang. They were Ok but I had to clean and polish the races.

fyi - cherry red changes the temper of the arm and makes it more prone to bending under a hard jolt.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

Joey · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:14 am Post subject:

Bart Dunn · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 7:23 am Post subject:

Alan Brase · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:


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